Ski-Mask Wearing Poway Robbery Suspect, Getaway Driver Quickly Caught

POWAY, CA — A man suspected of robbing a Poway dry cleaning business at knifepoint Thursday was arrested along with his getaway driver less than an hour after the alleged robbery took place, authorities said.

A male suspect wearing a black ski mask allegedly entered Twin Peaks Cleaners, 14891 Pomerado Road, at about 1:30 p.m., brandished a knife and demanded money from the clerk, according to San Diego County sheriff's Sgt. Robert Niderost.

After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, Niderost said, the man and a waiting driver were said to have escaped in a blue Scion TC that had moderate body damage to the right front corner of the vehicle.

Sheriff's deputies responded and put out a bulletin with the vehicle description to other North County law enforcement agencies and the sheriff's ASTREA (helicopter).

About 25 minutes after the robbery, Niderost said, the helicopter crew spotted the car at Pomerado and Rancho Bernardo roads.

"They followed the vehicle until Poway deputies and San Diego Police Department officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop on the vehicle in the North County Fair parking lot near the Target," Niderost said.

The suspects, identified as San Diego residents Taylor Knnick, 21, and Gregory Whittle, 23, were taken into sheriff's custody without incident, the sergeant said.

The dry cleaning clerk was not injured during the incident, according to Niderost.

(Patch file photo/Maggie Avants)